Coronavirus Gold Coast: Theme parks celebrating strong patronage numbers as restrictions ease

Gold Coast theme parks smashed by the coronavirus pandemic are now experiencing a boom in visitation as Queensland’s tough restrictions and border closures are wound back.

GOLD Coast theme parks smashed by the coronavirus pandemic are now experiencing a boom in visitation as Queensland’s tough restrictions and border closures are wound back.

Theme park car parks deserted several months ago have been all but full at Dreamworld, Movie World and Sea World in recent days, as families make the most of school holidays.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief operating officer Bikash Randhawa said Sea World’s Spooky Nights – created to fill the gap left by Movie World’s Fright Nights after it was cancelled – had almost completely sold out throughout October.

Gold Coast friends Rachel Mountney and Amy Van den Akker enjoy the kids play area at SeaWorld as they try to beat the Gold Coast heat. Photo: Scott Powick News Corp

“People are really embracing our theme parks. We’ve seen a lot of locals coming in, which is really good,” he said.

“Spooky Nights is a brand new event, because we weren’t able to do Fright Nights this year given social distancing et cetera. COVID gave birth to a new family event at Sea World.

“It’s a good thing to tourism. For us to be able to execute something like this successfully in the current environment, the flow on effect to suppliers and team members, to the economy in many ways, it’s huge.”

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Mr Randhawa said his parks have been popular among interstate visitors, including those from newly permitted northern NSW council areas, as well as Queenslanders holidaying at home.

“This is the busiest we’ve been since we reopened,” he said.

While it will not totally fill the gap left by the international market, Mr Randhawa was expecting the opening of the border to more than eight million NSW residents from November 1 would be a key step in the city’s economic resurgence.

“It’s a great step forward, but with some of the restrictions in place if borders open and you only have 50 per cent capacity you can’t cater to everyone,” he said.

“The restrictions need to be lifted so that when all these people come in they can have a good experience and they can remember.

Brisbane family Jason Davies and Partner Chelsea Wintour enjoy a day out at SeaWorld with their children Charlotte, 7, and Pippa, 6. Photo: Scott Powick News Corp

“There will be people coming to the Gold Coast who haven’t been here in a few years. We need to be prepared to give them the best experience. You want them to come back for years to come and we want to establish this city as the tourism capital of Australia.

“What we have, no other city in Australia has. We’ve got the best of all worlds.”

Brisbane mum Chelsea Wintour spent yesterday at Sea World with her girls Charlotte, 7, Pippa, 6, and partner Jason Davis.

“It was such a good vibe and Sea World felt mostly like it usually feels,” she said.

“The crowds and atmosphere was amazing and I almost felt like everything was dealt with a little better with a few less people. It seems more organised.

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“The seal and dolphin shows were a huge hit for all of us but our favourite ride was the Storm (Coaster) ride.”

Dreamworld chief operating officer Greg Yong said school holiday trade had been “better than we actually anticipated”,

“With the borders opening up and restrictions being eased even more we expect that will only help us as we move towards Christmas,” he said.

“We’ve been flat out. In the main, it’s still Queenslanders holidaying at home. It’s a much bigger split between Queenslanders and locals than interstate at the moment.

The carpark at SeaWorld was packed on Sunday. Photo: Scott Powick News Corp

“We’re only just starting to see more NSW people coming through with the border changes.

“Our largest market is Gold Coast, Brisbane and out to Ipswich. What we call the drive market, people who live within a few hours of here.”

Speaking about the missing international visitor market, Mr Yong said it “has been made up very much by increasing business from locals”.

“I think there is a bit of parochialism there, if you will. People that are local supporting local companies,” he said.

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Mr Yong said Dreamworld’s “real focus” is making sure guests enjoy a “safe experience”.

Rachel Mountney, 25, and her family friend Amy Van den Akker lapped up the warm weather on Sunday, heading to SeaWorld.

“It was pretty busy but it’s good to see people out and about,” Ms Mountney said.

“My highlight would have to be the dolphin show, who can’t love the dolphins.”